Nottingham's Saquan Hampton could make early impact at Rutgers

Nottingham's Saquan Hampton, left, was targeted three times Saturday against Hopewell Valley. (For The Trentonian/ file photo/ JOHN BLAINE)

HAMILTON — Saquan Hampton knew where the ball was going Saturday late in a regular season-ending victory against Hopewell Valley. Rarely tested, Hampton knocked down a pass up the right sideline intended for Hopewell’s Mike Gies, sealing a No. 2 seed for Nottingham in the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs.

Hampton held Gies, Mercer County’s fifth-leading receiver, without a catch.

“I was actually surprised,” Hampton, a senior, said. “I felt like they would try to get him the ball … but I was happy with my coverage.”

The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder wasn’t originally on Rutgers’ radar. Special teams coordinator Joe Rossi originally came to Hamilton last spring in pursuit of wide receiver Jameel Bailey, Hampton’s teammate.

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Nottingham head coach Jon Adams asked Rossi to reconsider.

“When (Rossi) came in, my coach got in his head and told him to look at my film,” Hampton said Saturday at Jim Wilno Sr. field. “He liked what he saw.”

Hamilton, listed without any other offers according to his Rivals.com, committed soon after. He is looking to become the first area player since Notre Dame’s Tiquan Underwood to make an impact in Piscataway.

Hamilton said he can play either corner or safety. He often shadowed Gies at the line of scrimmage Saturday while mixing in off coverage with a linebacker underneath.

He lined up on several punt returns, but Hopewell angled punts away from him. A holding penalty negated Hampton’s only return.

“I feel as if I can contribute very early (at Rutgers),” said Hampton, listed as the 19th-best prospect in New Jersey, according to Rivals.com.

He may have to.

Two Rutgers secondary commits, including DePaul (N.J.) Catholic four-star prospect Kiy Hester, de-committed within hours of each other Monday night. They became the fifth de-commitments of the recruiting season for Rutgers and third in 24 hours.

Free safety Jeremy Deering graduates after this season. Two former corners on the roster could vie for his spot.

“Like everybody said, they’re freshmen,” Hampton said of Rutgers’ secondary. “There are older guys on the other teams that are bigger, they have more knowledge to the college speed and they’re going to be good.”

Hampton said he has visited for Rutgers’ last two home games, including a 23-20 victory Nov. 2 against Temple. A year from now produces opponents of a completely different echelon.

Seven true freshmen have played for Rutgers this season.

Because of depth issues, it is conceivable that Hampton transitions from the West Jersey Football League to the Big Ten in less than a calendar year.

“It’s just a blessing,” he said. “I work very hard to have the opportunity to play in that conference.”